Zhu Yuanzhang was a very famous emperor, and the evaluation of him by later generations was extremely complicated. Many people criticized him for being too strict in the law during his tenure, and for crossing rivers and demolishing bridges and slaughtering heroes, which made many people chill. However, at the same time, we should also see that Zhu Yuanzhang is relatively fair in law enforcement, and there is rarely a phenomenon of concealment or partiality.
At the beginning, Ouyang Lun was sued by the imperial court for smuggling and monopolizing commerce. After Ouyang Lun saw Zhu Yuanzhang, he wept bitterly and begged for forgiveness. At that time, many people advised Zhu Yuanzhang that Ouyang Lun was a donkey after all and could be exempted from capital crimes, and the princess ran to Zhu Yuanzhang to be merciful and begged him to keep her husband's life. However, for the dissuasion of these people, Zhu Yuanzhang did not listen to them, and he resolutely ordered that Ouyang Lun be sentenced to death. The case shook at the time, and all the imperial relatives and state relatives had a sweat behind their backs, and they understood that as long as they violated the law of the land, Zhu Yuanzhang would not show mercy to anyone.
Treating his own family in this way, it is conceivable that zhu Yuanzhang, who treats other criminals, is even more ruthless. At that time, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, many meritorious men were lawless in their own merits, corrupt and perverted the law, and for the sake of the evil side, Zhu Yuanzhang was severely punished by these people, and some even joined several ethnic groups.
Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed a ruthless character, and during his tenure, the entire Ming Dynasty adopted heavy rules, and few officials who were imprisoned for crimes could survive. However, history always has accidents, according to the history books, there was a teenager at that time, who confronted Zhu Yuanzhang several times, but saved his father's life and sealed the official, this teenager was Zhou Wan.
Zhou Huan is a native of Chuzhou, and his father was originally the prefect of Chuzhou, but he was imprisoned and sentenced to death for being involved in a major case. At that time, few people who were sentenced to death could change their sentences, so many people advised Zhou Wan, who was only sixteen years old, to leave his hometown quickly to save his life. But the young Zhou Huan firmly believed that his father could not commit a crime, and he wanted to avenge his father's justice.
At that time, there was a Dengwen drum at the entrance of the palace, and when it was sounded, there was a chance to see Zhu Yuanzhang. The young Zhou Huan came to the palace alone, beating the drum and sounding the injustice, fortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned him. After seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhou Huan explained his intentions, first filing a grievance for his father, and then saying that if he really wanted to be sentenced to death, he was willing to accept the punishment on behalf of his father.
Although Zhou Huan was very young but had great courage, he was not nervous at all after seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, and he spoke fluently and reasonably. Zhu Yuanzhang felt that Zhou Huan was so young and should not be so calm, so he thought that there must be someone behind Zhou Huan's back, so he was very angry and forced to ask who the person behind Zhou Huan was instructing him. In the face of Zhu Yuanzhang's persecution, Zhou Huan always answered no instructions, all of which was his own will.
Zhu Yuanzhang felt that this young man was deceiving himself and was about to behead Zhou Wan, but Zhou Huan was still calm and unusual, and he was not afraid at all. Seeing Zhou Wan's reaction, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that this person was very extraordinary, so he decided to exempt Zhou Wan's father from the death penalty and exile him instead. However, Zhou Huan said that there was no difference between exile and death, and if he had to execute his father, he was willing to die with his father.
Being bumped several times by a teenager, Zhu Yuanzhang was very angry, and he felt that Zhou Huan was inching forward, so he directly ordered Zhou Huan to be taken to the execution ground and beheaded when the time came. However, after arriving at the execution site, Zhou Huan was not only not sad and afraid, but very happy. Seeing the teenager's smile, the supervisor felt a little inexplicable, and he asked, "Why are you so happy when you are about to be beheaded?" ”
Zhou Huan replied, "If the emperor can spare my father after executing me, then I will die as he deserves; if the emperor still wants to execute my father, then I can die with my father and be satisfied." This remark made the supervisor very moved, and he relayed these words to Zhu Yuanzhang. After Zhu Yuanzhang listened, he felt that Zhou Huan was really a filial piety and worth reusing. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered that Zhou Huan and his father be exonerated, and zhou huan was also given an official position. In this way, Zhou Huan, with his courage, impressed Zhu Yuanzhang and saved his own life and his father's life, which was really admirable.